Apparatus for making concrete poles



Feb. 14, 1928.

G. B. HEATH APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONCRETE POLES Filed Ana. 6, 1925" 2. Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR 5 0/ a .3. find/1.

. A Tow/vi) Fgb. 14, 1928. 1,658,922

"G. B. HEATH APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONCRETE POLES Filed Aug. 6, 1925 r '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IhU/EN Patented Feb. 14, 19 28.

UNITED v STAT-Es PAT ENT OFFICE." fl

, GEORGE B; HEATH, or s'r. LOUIS, missonnr ArrARAr s FOR MAKII JG CtD N CREIE Poms; A

Application filed August 6, 1925. Serial No. 48,524.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for making concrete poles and, more a particularly, to a certain new and useful improvement in such apparatus of the type" in which the pole'is shape d and formed under the action of centrifugal force;

In pole making machines of the class mentioned, it is essential for the production supporting structure are of efficient construc- 131011 for shell rotation with minimum vibration and in which themold and its containing shell are adapted for interengaging relation for effecting both rotation, and uniiorm centering within the, shell, of the mold 1 during the rotation of the shell. g l

It is' also desirable in' apparatus of this type for economical quantity production that the mold be conveniently removable from its containing-shell, and my invention has hence for another object the provision of such apparatus in which the mold and its shell are adapted for suchinterlocking relation for substantially unitary rotation without the employment of clamps or other such devices, thereby permitting ready and convenient removal of the mold.

My invention has for a further object the improvement and simplification generally of apparatus of the type mentioned, 7

And with the above and other objects in View, myinvention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and pointedout in the claims,

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a concrete pole made in, and by my new app aratus 7 Figures 2 and. 3 are enlarged"transverse sectional views of the pole taken approx -v 1, respectively;

Figure 4 is a I g of a concrete pole making apparatus embodying my invention, showing the mold in side elevation, partly brokenaway; and 7 Figures Sand 6 are enlarged transverse mately on the-lines '2-2 and 33, Figure Referring now more erence J characters to the drawings, which A 1 illustrate a preferred embodim'entof my inlongitudinal sectional view sectional views of the" apparatus taken approximately ure] 4, respectively,

vention, A indicates the bed-plate of the apparatus, 'whichis semi-cylindrical in sectionand ofsuitable linear and diametrical d mensions, integral with or otherwise rigidly fixed to whichare standards 1, 1, adapted to be bolted or otherwise fixed to afloor or other supporting surface. Provided upon the inner or convexed' face, and suitably spaced longitudinally, ofplate A, are cir' cumferential ribs 2, toiand upon whichare rigidly and suitably fixed outer race-rings 3.

Disposed lengthwise of and horizontally overthe bed-plate A and throughthe several ringsfi, is a tubular shell "B composed 'pret-- erably of 5 companion semi-cylindrical sec-y tions 4, 4,'rigidly and permanently bolted or on the lines 5-5 and 6-6, Figin detail and by refotherwise fixedtogether at theiI-Fmee'ting edges,v as best seen in. Figure 5. Provided V or formed circumferentially upon the outer face or periphery of shell B,are ribs 5 cor responding in number and longitudinal spacing with the ribs 2 of plate A. Fixed on the ribs 5 are race-ring 6 companionto ringsf3, the rings 3 and 6 being adapted with the interposed balls orrollers 7 to provide eflicient anti-friction bearings for supporting the shell B for axial 5 rotation over the bed A. Bolted or otherwise fixed All at tlieirends' to bed A-and embracing 'substantially the upper half of shell B in align ing' registration with the bed-ribs 2, are securing or retaining-strapsfi. Intermediate its ends, shell B has a crowned portion' or band 9, over which from any suita ablesource of power (not shown) and accommodated byregistering apertures, as at 10, 10, as bestseeninFigui-e 6,.in thebe'dplate A and its standard 1, runs a drivingbelt 11 for rotatably actuating the shell B.

The supporting-structure for shell B is' relatively simple, yet firmzandri id, and enables rotation even at high speedsof shell B with minimum vibration. 7 V

.ShellB-is plain and smooth upon ts innerrperiphery, and adapted to lengthwise fit for"removalwithin'shell B, is a mold C.

This mold C, which may have any suitable configuration as may be desired in thelin ished pole, preferably comprises and is construotcd of a pair of companion approximately semi-cylindrical sections 12 formed at their lengthwise margins or meeting edges with outwardly presented flanges 13 adapted conforms in external configuration with the internal configuration of mold C. In the production of poles D, which are preferably of re-inforced construction, the re-inforcing frame or members and a suitable quantity of soft, plastic, or so-called liquid concrete or other cementitious mixture are placed and properly distributed within the mold C. The mold C, Whose ends are closed by opposite end-walls 15, 15, is now lengthwise slidably disposed within and for rotary actuation with, shell B, in which actuation under the. action of centrifugal force the charge is thrown and moves outwardly and lines the mold and upon solidification forms a hollow or tubular pole, such as the pole D, conforming in outer configuration, as stated, with the inner configuration of the mold-sections, the water and other lighter constituents of the charge coming to the inner surface of the tubular pole and being suitably removed, as'through an aperture 18 in one of the mold end-walls 15. In order, however, that the finished poles D, shall be uniform and symmetrical, it is essential, as l have mentioned, thatthe mold C shall be rigidly held in centralized or co-axial position within its shell or holder B. To such end, the shell B longitudinally tapers in diameter, as shown, and integrally or otherwise rigidly formed or provided upon the mold C, which preferably is also as a whole of'tapering form and con- 'struction, is a series of circumferentially disposed annular or ring-shaped walls 17 suitably spaced longitudinally of the mold and being gradually of reduced diameter relatively to and corresponding with the tapering diametrical dimensions of shell B, It will hence be evident that, as the mold C is slidably fitted within the shell B, the several walls 17 engage wedgewise with the tapering shell B and not only frictionally secure the mold C and shell B together for rotation substantially as a unit, but also firmly and rigidly retain the mold "Q properly centralized wfhin shell B for the production of symmetrical and uniform poles D. lhus I elliciently accomplish by my apparatus the objects hereinhefore stated. I mightadd that, in the production of poles D, a core 18 is suitably imbedded in the liquid concrete, by which, upon removal, an opening, as at 19, is formed in the finished pole for the entrance of electric wires and the like. It will be obvious that the several walls 17 also strengthen the mold-sections 12 from buckling or distortion, and that the shell B readily accommodates molds C of varying length and dimensions for the production of poles D of varying size.

I am aware that changes in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of -my apparatus may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described wit iout departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what 1' claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentis: I

1. In af-concrete pole making apparatus, a supporting bed and an elongated tubular holder-shellmounted for rotation'on'the bed, in combination with a separate elongated mold removabl'y disposed endwise within the shell, and a series of spaced circumferential walls fixed only on the mold and removable with the mold from the shell adapted for enga ement at their outer margin with the wal of the shell for centralizing the mold within the shell.

2. In a concrete-pole making apparatus, a supporting bed and an elongated tubular holder-shell mounted for rotation on the bed, in combination with a separate elongated tapering mold removably disposed endwise within the shell, and a series of spaced circumferential walls of gradually reduced diameter fixed only on the mold and removable with the mold from the shell adapted for engagement at their outer margin with the wall of the shell for centralizing the mold within the shell.

3. In a concrete-pole making apparatus, a supporting bed and an elongated tubular tapering holder-shell mounted for rotation on the bed, incombination with a separate elongated tapering mold removably disposed endwise within the shell, and a series of spaced circumferential walls of gradually reduced diameter fixed only on the mold and removable with the mold from the shell adapted for engagement at their outer margin with the wall of the shell'for centralizing the mold within the shell.

&. In a concrete-pole making apparatus, an elongated tubular rotary holder-shell, in combination with a separate elongated mold removably insertable endwise within the shell, and means fixed only on the mold and adapted for engagement at their outer margin with the wall of the shell for wedgewise Securing the mold removably within the shell.

5. in a concrete-pole making apparatus, an elongated tubular rotary holder-shell, in combination with a separate elongated tapering mold removably insertable endwise within the shell, and a series of spaced circum ferential walls of gradually reduced diameter fixed only on the mold and adapted for engagement at their outer margin with the wall of the shell for wedgewise securing the mold removably within the shell.

6. In a concrete-pole making apparatus, an elongated tubular rotary holder-shell tapering from end to end, in combination with aseparate elongated mold also tapering from end to end removahly insertable endwise within the shell, and a series of spaced circumferential alls of gradually reduced diameter fixed only on the. mold and adapted for engagement at their outer margin with the wall of the shell for wedgewise securing the mold removahly within the shell.

7. In a concrete-pole making apparatus,

a semi-cylindrical horizontally disposed sup-- porting bed, a tubular shell mounted, for

, axial rotation upon the bed, and meansoomprising a driving-member running over the shell for rotarily actuating the same.

8. In a concrete-pole making apparatus,

Wise for rotation upon and through said bearings, and'means for rotarily actuating the shell.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. i I

' GEORGE B. 

